Pride and Prejudice

she expected. ‘Indeed I have, sir,’ was her answer. ‘She is a great deal too ill to be moved. Mr. Jones says we must not think of moving her. We must trespass a little longer on your kindness.’ ‘Removed!’ cried Bingley. ‘It must not be thought of. My sister, I am sure, will not hear of her removal.’ ‘You may depend upon it, Madam,’ said Miss Bingley, with cold civility, ‘that Miss Bennet will receive every pos- sible attention while she remains with us.’ Mrs. Bennet was profuse in her acknowledgments. ‘I am sure,’ she added, ‘if it was not for such good friends I do not know what would become of her, for she is very ill indeed, and suffers a vast deal, though with the greatest pa- tience in the world, which is always the way with her, for she has, without exception, the sweetest temper I have ever met with. I often tell my other girls they are nothing to HER. You have a sweet room here, Mr. Bingley, and a charming prospect over the gravel walk. I do not know a place in the country that is equal to Netherfield. You will not think of quitting it in a hurry, I hope, though you have but a short lease.’ ‘Whatever I do is done in a hurry,’ replied he; ‘and there- fore if I should resolve to quit Netherfield, I should probably be off in five minutes. At present, however, I consider myself as quite fixed here.’ ‘That is exactly what I should have supposed of you,’ said Elizabeth. ‘You begin to comprehend me, do you?’ cried he, turning towards her. Free eBooks at Planet eBook.com 51

‘Oh! yes—I understand you perfectly.’ ‘I wish I might take this for a compliment; but to be so easily seen through I am afraid is pitiful.’ ‘That is as it happens. It does not follow that a deep, in- tricate character is more or less estimable than such a one as yours.’ ‘Lizzy,’ cried her mother, ‘remember where you are, and do not run on in the wild manner that you are suffered to do at home.’ ‘I did not know before,’ continued Bingley immediately, ‘that your were a studier of character. It must be an amus- ing study.’ ‘Yes, but intricate characters are the MOST amusing. They have at least that advantage.’ ‘The country,’ said Darcy, ‘can in general supply but a few subjects for such a study. In a country neighbourhood you move in a very confined and unvarying society.’ ‘But people themselves alter so much, that there is some- thing new to be observed in them for ever.’ ‘Yes, indeed,’ cried Mrs. Bennet, offended by his man- ner of mentioning a country neighbourhood. ‘I assure you there is quite as much of THAT going on in the country as in town.’ Everybody was surprised, and Darcy, after looking at her for a moment, turned silently away. Mrs. Bennet, who fan- cied she had gained a complete victory over him, continued her triumph. ‘I cannot see that London has any great advantage over the country, for my part, except the shops and public places. 52 Pride and Prejudice

The country is a vast deal pleasanter, is it not, Mr. Bingley?’ ‘When I am in the country,’ he replied, ‘I never wish to leave it; and when I am in town it is pretty much the same. They have each their advantages, and I can be equally happy in either.’ ‘Aye—that is because you have the right disposition. But that gentleman,’ looking at Darcy, ‘seemed to think the country was nothing at all.’ ‘Indeed, Mamma, you are mistaken,’ said Elizabeth, blushing for her mother. ‘You quite mistook Mr. Darcy. He only meant that there was not such a variety of people to be met with in the country as in the town, which you must ac- knowledge to be true.’ ‘Certainly, my dear, nobody said there were; but as to not meeting with many people in this neighbourhood, I believe there are few neighbourhoods larger. I know we dine with four-and-twenty families.’ Nothing but concern for Elizabeth could enable Bingley to keep his countenance. His sister was less delicate, and directed her eyes towards Mr. Darcy with a very expressive smile. Elizabeth, for the sake of saying something that might turn her mother’s thoughts, now asked her if Charlotte Lu- cas had been at Longbourn since HER coming away. ‘Yes, she called yesterday with her father. What an agree- able man Sir William is, Mr. Bingley, is not he? So much the man of fashion! So genteel and easy! He had always something to say to everybody. THAT is my idea of good breeding; and those persons who fancy themselves very im- portant, and never open their mouths, quite mistake the Free eBooks at Planet eBook.com 53

matter.’ ‘Did Charlotte dine with you?’ ‘No, she would go home. I fancy she was wanted about the mince-pies. For my part, Mr. Bingley, I always keep ser- vants that can do their own work; MY daughters are brought up very differently. But everybody is to judge for themselves, and the Lucases are a very good sort of girls, I assure you. It is a pity they are not handsome! Not that I think Charlotte so VERY plain—but then she is our particular friend.’ ‘She seems a very pleasant young woman.’ ‘Oh! dear, yes; but you must own she is very plain. Lady Lucas herself has often said so, and envied me Jane’s beauty. I do not like to boast of my own child, but to be sure, Jane— one does not often see anybody better looking. It is what everybody says. I do not trust my own partiality. When she was only fifteen, there was a man at my brother Gardin- er’s in town so much in love with her that my sister-in-law was sure he would make her an offer before we came away. But, however, he did not. Perhaps he thought her too young. However, he wrote some verses on her, and very pretty they were.’ ‘And so ended his affection,’ said Elizabeth impatiently. ‘There has been many a one, I fancy, overcome in the same way. I wonder who first discovered the efficacy of poetry in driving away love!’ ‘I have been used to consider poetry as the FOOD of love,’ said Darcy. ‘Of a fine, stout, healthy love it may. Everything nourish- es what is strong already. But if it be only a slight, thin sort 54 Pride and Prejudice

of inclination, I am convinced that one good sonnet will starve it entirely away.’ Darcy only smiled; and the general pause which ensued made Elizabeth tremble lest her mother should be expos- ing herself again. She longed to speak, but could think of nothing to say; and after a short silence Mrs. Bennet be- gan repeating her thanks to Mr. Bingley for his kindness to Jane, with an apology for troubling him also with Lizzy. Mr. Bingley was unaffectedly civil in his answer, and forced his younger sister to be civil also, and say what the occa- sion required. She performed her part indeed without much graciousness, but Mrs. Bennet was satisfied, and soon after- wards ordered her carriage. Upon this signal, the youngest of her daughters put herself forward. The two girls had been whispering to each other during the whole visit, and the result of it was, that the youngest should tax Mr. Bingley with having promised on his first coming into the country to give a ball at Netherfield. Lydia was a stout, well-grown girl of fifteen, with a fine complexion and good-humoured countenance; a favourite with her mother, whose affection had brought her into pub- lic at an early age. She had high animal spirits, and a sort of natural self-consequence, which the attention of the of- ficers, to whom her uncle’s good dinners, and her own easy manners recommended her, had increased into assurance. She was very equal, therefore, to address Mr. Bingley on the subject of the ball, and abruptly reminded him of his prom- ise; adding, that it would be the most shameful thing in the world if he did not keep it. His answer to this sudden attack Free eBooks at Planet eBook.com 55

was delightful to their mother’s ear: ‘I am perfectly ready, I assure you, to keep my engage- ment; and when your sister is recovered, you shall, if you please, name the very day of the ball. But you would not wish to be dancing when she is ill.’ Lydia declared herself satisfied. ‘Oh! yes—it would be much better to wait till Jane was well, and by that time most likely Captain Carter would be at Meryton again. And when you have given YOUR ball,’ she added, ‘I shall insist on their giving one also. I shall tell Colonel Forster it will be quite a shame if he does not.’ Mrs. Bennet and her daughters then departed, and Eliz- abeth returned instantly to Jane, leaving her own and her relations’ behaviour to the remarks of the two ladies and Mr. Darcy; the latter of whom, however, could not be pre- vailed on to join in their censure of HER, in spite of all Miss Bingley’s witticisms on FINE EYES. 56 Pride and Prejudice

Chapter 10 The day passed much as the day before had done. Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley had spent some hours of the morning with the invalid, who continued, though slowly, to mend; and in the evening Elizabeth joined their party in the drawing-room. The loo-table, however, did not appear. Mr. Darcy was writing, and Miss Bingley, seated near him, was watching the progress of his letter and repeatedly call- ing off his attention by messages to his sister. Mr. Hurst and Mr. Bingley were at piquet, and Mrs. Hurst was observing their game. Elizabeth took up some needlework, and was sufficiently amused in attending to what passed between Darcy and his companion. The perpetual commendations of the lady, ei- ther on his handwriting, or on the evenness of his lines, or on the length of his letter, with the perfect unconcern with which her praises were received, formed a curious dialogue, and was exactly in union with her opinion of each. ‘How delighted Miss Darcy will be to receive such a let- ter!’ He made no answer. ‘You write uncommonly fast.’ ‘You are mistaken. I write rather slowly.’ ‘How many letters you must have occasion to write in the course of a year! Letters of business, too! How odious I Free eBooks at Planet eBook.com 57

should think them!’ ‘It is fortunate, then, that they fall to my lot instead of yours.’ ‘Pray tell your sister that I long to see her.’ ‘I have already told her so once, by your desire.’ ‘I am afraid you do not like your pen. Let me mend it for you. I mend pens remarkably well.’ ‘Thank you—but I always mend my own.’ ‘How can you contrive to write so even?’ He was silent. ‘Tell your sister I am delighted to hear of her improve- ment on the harp; and pray let her know that I am quite in raptures with her beautiful little design for a table, and I think it infinitely superior to Miss Grantley’s.’ ‘Will you give me leave to defer your raptures till I write again? At present I have not room to do them justice.’ ‘Oh! it is of no consequence. I shall see her in January. But do you always write such charming long letters to her, Mr. Darcy?’ ‘They are generally long; but whether always charming it is not for me to determine.’ ‘It is a rule with me, that a person who can write a long letter with ease, cannot write ill.’ ‘That will not do for a compliment to Darcy, Caroline,’ cried her brother, ‘because he does NOT write with ease. He studies too much for words of four syllables. Do not you, Darcy?’ ‘My style of writing is very different from yours.’ ‘Oh!’ cried Miss Bingley, ‘Charles writes in the most care- 58 Pride and Prejudice

less way imaginable. He leaves out half his words, and blots the rest.’ ‘My ideas flow so rapidly that I have not time to express them—by which means my letters sometimes convey no ideas at all to my correspondents.’ ‘Your humility, Mr. Bingley,’ said Elizabeth, ‘must dis- arm reproof.’ ‘Nothing is more deceitful,’ said Darcy, ‘than the appear- ance of humility. It is often only carelessness of opinion, and sometimes an indirect boast.’ ‘And which of the two do you call MY little recent piece of modesty?’ ‘The indirect boast; for you are really proud of your de- fects in writing, because you consider them as proceeding from a rapidity of thought and carelessness of execution, which, if not estimable, you think at least highly interest- ing. The power of doing anything with quickness is always prized much by the possessor, and often without any atten- tion to the imperfection of the performance. When you told Mrs. Bennet this morning that if you ever resolved upon quitting Netherfield you should be gone in five minutes, you meant it to be a sort of panegyric, of compliment to yourself—and yet what is there so very laudable in a pre- cipitance which must leave very necessary business undone, and can be of no real advantage to yourself or anyone else?’ ‘Nay,’ cried Bingley, ‘this is too much, to remember at night all the foolish things that were said in the morning. And yet, upon my honour, I believe what I said of myself to be true, and I believe it at this moment. At least, therefore, I Free eBooks at Planet eBook.com 59

did not assume the character of needless precipitance mere- ly to show off before the ladies.’ ‘I dare say you believed it; but I am by no means con- vinced that you would be gone with such celerity. Your conduct would be quite as dependent on chance as that of any man I know; and if, as you were mounting your horse, a friend were to say, ‘Bingley, you had better stay till next week,’ you would probably do it, you would probably not go—and at another word, might stay a month.’ ‘You have only proved by this,’ cried Elizabeth, ‘that Mr. Bingley did not do justice to his own disposition. You have shown him off now much more than he did himself.’ ‘I am exceedingly gratified,’ said Bingley, ‘by your con- verting what my friend says into a compliment on the sweetness of my temper. But I am afraid you are giving it a turn which that gentleman did by no means intend; for he would certainly think better of me, if under such a cir- cumstance I were to give a flat denial, and ride off as fast as I could.’ ‘Would Mr. Darcy then consider the rashness of your original intentions as atoned for by your obstinacy in ad- hering to it?’ ‘Upon my word, I cannot exactly explain the matter; Darcy must speak for himself.’ ‘You expect me to account for opinions which you choose to call mine, but which I have never acknowledged. Allowing the case, however, to stand according to your representa- tion, you must remember, Miss Bennet, that the friend who is supposed to desire his return to the house, and the delay 60 Pride and Prejudice

of his plan, has merely desired it, asked it without offering one argument in favour of its propriety.’ ‘To yield readily—easily—to the PERSUASION of a friend is no merit with you.’ ‘To yield without conviction is no compliment to the un- derstanding of either.’ ‘You appear to me, Mr. Darcy, to allow nothing for the influence of friendship and affection. A regard for the re- quester would often make one readily yield to a request, without waiting for arguments to reason one into it. I am not particularly speaking of such a case as you have sup- posed about Mr. Bingley. We may as well wait, perhaps, till the circumstance occurs before we discuss the discretion of his behaviour thereupon. But in general and ordinary cases between friend and friend, where one of them is desired by the other to change a resolution of no very great moment, should you think ill of that person for complying with the desire, without waiting to be argued into it?’ ‘Will it not be advisable, before we proceed on this sub- ject, to arrange with rather more precision the degree of importance which is to appertain to this request, as well as the degree of intimacy subsisting between the parties?’ ‘By all means,’ cried Bingley; ‘let us hear all the particu- lars, not forgetting their comparative height and size; for that will have more weight in the argument, Miss Bennet, than you may be aware of. I assure you, that if Darcy were not such a great tall fellow, in comparison with myself, I should not pay him half so much deference. I declare I do not know a more awful object than Darcy, on particular Free eBooks at Planet eBook.com 61

occasions, and in particular places; at his own house espe- cially, and of a Sunday evening, when he has nothing to do.’ Mr. Darcy smiled; but Elizabeth thought she could per- ceive that he was rather offended, and therefore checked her laugh. Miss Bingley warmly resented the indignity he had received, in an expostulation with her brother for talking such nonsense. ‘I see your design, Bingley,’ said his friend. ‘You dislike an argument, and want to silence this.’ ‘Perhaps I do. Arguments are too much like disputes. If you and Miss Bennet will defer yours till I am out of the room, I shall be very thankful; and then you may say what- ever you like of me.’ ‘What you ask,’ said Elizabeth, ‘is no sacrifice on my side; and Mr. Darcy had much better finish his letter.’ Mr. Darcy took her advice, and did finish his letter. When that business was over, he applied to Miss Bingley and Elizabeth for an indulgence of some music. Miss Bing- ley moved with some alacrity to the pianoforte; and, after a polite request that Elizabeth would lead the way which the other as politely and more earnestly negatived, she seated herself. Mrs. Hurst sang with her sister, and while they were thus employed, Elizabeth could not help observing, as she turned over some music-books that lay on the instrument, how fre- quently Mr. Darcy’s eyes were fixed on her. She hardly knew how to suppose that she could be an object of admiration to so great a man; and yet that he should look at her because he disliked her, was still more strange. She could only imagine, 62 Pride and Prejudice

however, at last that she drew his notice because there was something more wrong and reprehensible, according to his ideas of right, than in any other person present. The suppo- sition did not pain her. She liked him too little to care for his approbation. After playing some Italian songs, Miss Bingley varied the charm by a lively Scotch air; and soon afterwards Mr. Darcy, drawing near Elizabeth, said to her: ‘Do not you feel a great inclination, Miss Bennet, to seize such an opportunity of dancing a reel?’ She smiled, but made no answer. He repeated the ques- tion, with some surprise at her silence. ‘Oh!’ said she, ‘I heard you before, but I could not im- mediately determine what to say in reply. You wanted me, I know, to say ‘Yes,’ that you might have the pleasure of de- spising my taste; but I always delight in overthrowing those kind of schemes, and cheating a person of their premedi- tated contempt. I have, therefore, made up my mind to tell you, that I do not want to dance a reel at all—and now de- spise me if you dare.’ ‘Indeed I do not dare.’ Elizabeth, having rather expected to affront him, was amazed at his gallantry; but there was a mixture of sweet- ness and archness in her manner which made it difficult for her to affront anybody; and Darcy had never been so be- witched by any woman as he was by her. He really believed, that were it not for the inferiority of her connections, he should be in some danger. Miss Bingley saw, or suspected enough to be jealous; and Free eBooks at Planet eBook.com 63

her great anxiety for the recovery of her dear friend Jane received some assistance from her desire of getting rid of Elizabeth. She often tried to provoke Darcy into disliking her guest, by talking of their supposed marriage, and planning his happiness in such an alliance. ‘I hope,’ said she, as they were walking together in the shrubbery the next day, ‘you will give your mother-in-law a few hints, when this desirable event takes place, as to the advantage of holding her tongue; and if you can compass it, do sure the younger girls of running after officers. And, if I may mention so delicate a subject, endeavour to check that little something, bordering on conceit and impertinence, which your lady possesses.’ ‘Have you anything else to propose for my domestic fe- licity?’ ‘Oh! yes. Do let the portraits of your uncle and aunt Phil- lips be placed in the gallery at Pemberley. Put them next to your great-uncle the judge. They are in the same profession, you know, only in different lines. As for your Elizabeth’s picture, you must not have it taken, for what painter could do justice to those beautiful eyes?’ ‘It would not be easy, indeed, to catch their expression, but their colour and shape, and the eyelashes, so remark- ably fine, might be copied.’ At that moment they were met from another walk by Mrs. Hurst and Elizabeth herself. ‘I did not know that you intended to walk,’ said Miss Bingley, in some confusion, lest they had been overheard. 64 Pride and Prejudice

‘You used us abominably ill,’ answered Mrs. Hurst, ‘run- ning away without telling us that you were coming out.’ Then taking the disengaged arm of Mr. Darcy, she left Elizabeth to walk by herself. The path just admitted three. Mr. Darcy felt their rudeness, and immediately said: ‘This walk is not wide enough for our party. We had bet- ter go into the avenue.’ But Elizabeth, who had not the least inclination to re- main with them, laughingly answered: ‘No, no; stay where you are. You are charmingly grouped, and appear to uncommon advantage. The picturesque would be spoilt by admitting a fourth. Good-bye.’ She then ran gaily off, rejoicing as she rambled about, in the hope of being at home again in a day or two. Jane was already so much recovered as to intend leaving her room for a couple of hours that evening. Free eBooks at Planet eBook.com 65

Chapter 11 When the ladies removed after dinner, Elizabeth ran up to her sister, and seeing her well guarded from cold, attended her into the drawing-room, where she was welcomed by her two friends with many professions of plea- sure; and Elizabeth had never seen them so agreeable as they were during the hour which passed before the gentlemen appeared. Their powers of conversation were considerable. They could describe an entertainment with accuracy, relate an anecdote with humour, and laugh at their acquaintance with spirit. But when the gentlemen entered, Jane was no longer the first object; Miss Bingley’s eyes were instantly turned to- ward Darcy, and she had something to say to him before he had advanced many steps. He addressed himself to Miss Bennet, with a polite congratulation; Mr. Hurst also made her a slight bow, and said he was ‘very glad;’ but diffuseness and warmth remained for Bingley’s salutation. He was full of joy and attention. The first half-hour was spent in piling up the fire, lest she should suffer from the change of room; and she removed at his desire to the other side of the fire- place, that she might be further from the door. He then sat down by her, and talked scarcely to anyone else. Elizabeth, at work in the opposite corner, saw it all with great delight. When tea was over, Mr. Hurst reminded his sister-in-law 66 Pride and Prejudice

of the card-table—but in vain. She had obtained private in- telligence that Mr. Darcy did not wish for cards; and Mr. Hurst soon found even his open petition rejected. She as- sured him that no one intended to play, and the silence of the whole party on the subject seemed to justify her. Mr. Hurst had therefore nothing to do, but to stretch himself on one of the sofas and go to sleep. Darcy took up a book; Miss Bingley did the same; and Mrs. Hurst, principally oc- cupied in playing with her bracelets and rings, joined now and then in her brother’s conversation with Miss Bennet. Miss Bingley’s attention was quite as much engaged in watching Mr. Darcy’s progress through HIS book, as in reading her own; and she was perpetually either making some inquiry, or looking at his page. She could not win him, however, to any conversation; he merely answered her ques- tion, and read on. At length, quite exhausted by the attempt to be amused with her own book, which she had only cho- sen because it was the second volume of his, she gave a great yawn and said, ‘How pleasant it is to spend an evening in this way! I declare after all there is no enjoyment like read- ing! How much sooner one tires of anything than of a book! When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.’ No one made any reply. She then yawned again, threw aside her book, and cast her eyes round the room in quest for some amusement; when hearing her brother mention- ing a ball to Miss Bennet, she turned suddenly towards him and said: ‘By the bye, Charles, are you really serious in meditating Free eBooks at Planet eBook.com 67

a dance at Netherfield? I would advise you, before you de- termine on it, to consult the wishes of the present party; I am much mistaken if there are not some among us to whom a ball would be rather a punishment than a pleasure.’ ‘If you mean Darcy,’ cried her brother, ‘he may go to bed, if he chooses, before it begins—but as for the ball, it is quite a settled thing; and as soon as Nicholls has made white soup enough, I shall send round my cards.’ ‘I should like balls infinitely better,’ she replied, ‘if they were carried on in a different manner; but there is some- thing insufferably tedious in the usual process of such a meeting. It would surely be much more rational if conversa- tion instead of dancing were made the order of the day.’ ‘Much more rational, my dear Caroline, I dare say, but it would not be near so much like a ball.’ Miss Bingley made no answer, and soon afterwards she got up and walked about the room. Her figure was el- egant, and she walked well; but Darcy, at whom it was all aimed, was still inflexibly studious. In the desperation of her feelings, she resolved on one effort more, and, turning to Elizabeth, said: ‘Miss Eliza Bennet, let me persuade you to follow my ex- ample, and take a turn about the room. I assure you it is very refreshing after sitting so long in one attitude.’ Elizabeth was surprised, but agreed to it immediate- ly. Miss Bingley succeeded no less in the real object of her civility; Mr. Darcy looked up. He was as much awake to the novelty of attention in that quarter as Elizabeth her- self could be, and unconsciously closed his book. He was 68 Pride and Prejudice

directly invited to join their party, but he declined it, ob- serving that he could imagine but two motives for their choosing to walk up and down the room together, with either of which motives his joining them would interfere. ‘What could he mean? She was dying to know what could be his meaning?’—and asked Elizabeth whether she could at all understand him? ‘Not at all,’ was her answer; ‘but depend upon it, he means to be severe on us, and our surest way of disappointing him will be to ask nothing about it.’ Miss Bingley, however, was incapable of disappointing Mr. Darcy in anything, and persevered therefore in requir- ing an explanation of his two motives. ‘I have not the smallest objection to explaining them,’ said he, as soon as she allowed him to speak. ‘You either choose this method of passing the evening because you are in each other’s confidence, and have secret affairs to dis- cuss, or because you are conscious that your figures appear to the greatest advantage in walking; if the first, I would be completely in your way, and if the second, I can admire you much better as I sit by the fire.’ ‘Oh! shocking!’ cried Miss Bingley. ‘I never heard any- thing so abominable. How shall we punish him for such a speech?’ ‘Nothing so easy, if you have but the inclination,’ said Elizabeth. ‘We can all plague and punish one another. Tease him—laugh at him. Intimate as you are, you must know how it is to be done.’ ‘But upon my honour, I do NOT. I do assure you that my Free eBooks at Planet eBook.com 69

intimacy has not yet taught me THAT. Tease calmness of manner and presence of mind! No, no—feel he may defy us there. And as to laughter, we will not expose ourselves, if you please, by attempting to laugh without a subject. Mr. Darcy may hug himself.’ ‘Mr. Darcy is not to be laughed at!’ cried Elizabeth. ‘That is an uncommon advantage, and uncommon I hope it will continue, for it would be a great loss to ME to have many such acquaintances. I dearly love a laugh.’ ‘Miss Bingley,’ said he, ‘has given me more credit than can be. The wisest and the best of men—nay, the wisest and best of their actions—may be rendered ridiculous by a per- son whose first object in life is a joke.’ ‘Certainly,’ replied Elizabeth—‘there are such people, but I hope I am not one of THEM. I hope I never ridicule what is wise and good. Follies and nonsense, whims and inconsistencies, DO divert me, I own, and I laugh at them whenever I can. But these, I suppose, are precisely what you are without.’ ‘Perhaps that is not possible for anyone. But it has been the study of my life to avoid those weaknesses which often expose a strong understanding to ridicule.’ ‘Such as vanity and pride.’ ‘Yes, vanity is a weakness indeed. But pride—where there is a real superiority of mind, pride will be always under good regulation.’ Elizabeth turned away to hide a smile. ‘Your examination of Mr. Darcy is over, I presume,’ said Miss Bingley; ‘and pray what is the result?’ 70 Pride and Prejudice

‘I am perfectly convinced by it that Mr. Darcy has no de- fect. He owns it himself without disguise.’ ‘No,’ said Darcy, ‘I have made no such pretension. I have faults enough, but they are not, I hope, of understanding. My temper I dare not vouch for. It is, I believe, too little yielding—certainly too little for the convenience of the world. I cannot forget the follies and vices of other so soon as I ought, nor their offenses against myself. My feelings are not puffed about with every attempt to move them. My temper would perhaps be called resentful. My good opinion once lost, is lost forever.’ ‘THAT is a failing indeed!’ cried Elizabeth. ‘Implacable resentment IS a shade in a character. But you have chosen your fault well. I really cannot LAUGH at it. You are safe from me.’ ‘There is, I believe, in every disposition a tendency to some particular evil—a natural defect, which not even the best education can overcome.’ ‘And YOUR defect is to hate everybody.’ ‘And yours,’ he replied with a smile, ‘is willfully to mis- understand them.’ ‘Do let us have a little music,’ cried Miss Bingley, tired of a conversation in which she had no share. ‘Louisa, you will not mind my waking Mr. Hurst?’ Her sister had not the smallest objection, and the pi- anoforte was opened; and Darcy, after a few moments’ recollection, was not sorry for it. He began to feel the dan- ger of paying Elizabeth too much attention. Free eBooks at Planet eBook.com 71

Chapter 12 In consequence of an agreement between the sisters, Eliza- beth wrote the next morning to their mother, to beg that the carriage might be sent for them in the course of the day. But Mrs. Bennet, who had calculated on her daughters re- maining at Netherfield till the following Tuesday, which would exactly finish Jane’s week, could not bring herself to receive them with pleasure before. Her answer, therefore, was not propitious, at least not to Elizabeth’s wishes, for she was impatient to get home. Mrs. Bennet sent them word that they could not possibly have the carriage before Tues- day; and in her postscript it was added, that if Mr. Bingley and his sister pressed them to stay longer, she could spare them very well. Against staying longer, however, Elizabeth was positively resolved—nor did she much expect it would be asked; and fearful, on the contrary, as being considered as intruding themselves needlessly long, she urged Jane to borrow Mr. Bingley’s carriage immediately, and at length it was settled that their original design of leaving Netherfield that morning should be mentioned, and the request made. The communication excited many professions of con- cern; and enough was said of wishing them to stay at least till the following day to work on Jane; and till the morrow their going was deferred. Miss Bingley was then sorry that she had proposed the delay, for her jealousy and dislike of 72 Pride and Prejudice

one sister much exceeded her affection for the other. The master of the house heard with real sorrow that they were to go so soon, and repeatedly tried to persuade Miss Bennet that it would not be safe for her—that she was not enough recovered; but Jane was firm where she felt herself to be right. To Mr. Darcy it was welcome intelligence—Elizabeth had been at Netherfield long enough. She attracted him more than he liked—and Miss Bingley was uncivil to HER, and more teasing than usual to himself. He wisely resolved to be particularly careful that no sign of admiration should NOW escape him, nothing that could elevate her with the hope of influencing his felicity; sensible that if such an idea had been suggested, his behaviour during the last day must have material weight in confirming or crushing it. Steady to his purpose, he scarcely spoke ten words to her through the whole of Saturday, and though they were at one time left by themselves for half-an-hour, he adhered most conscien- tiously to his book, and would not even look at her. On Sunday, after morning service, the separation, so agreeable to almost all, took place. Miss Bingley’s civility to Elizabeth increased at last very rapidly, as well as her affec- tion for Jane; and when they parted, after assuring the latter of the pleasure it would always give her to see her either at Longbourn or Netherfield, and embracing her most ten- derly, she even shook hands with the former. Elizabeth took leave of the whole party in the liveliest of spirits. They were not welcomed home very cordially by their mother. Mrs. Bennet wondered at their coming, and thought Free eBooks at Planet eBook.com 73

them very wrong to give so much trouble, and was sure Jane would have caught cold again. But their father, though very laconic in his expressions of pleasure, was really glad to see them; he had felt their importance in the family circle. The evening conversation, when they were all assembled, had lost much of its animation, and almost all its sense by the absence of Jane and Elizabeth. They found Mary, as usual, deep in the study of thorough- bass and human nature; and had some extracts to admire, and some new observations of threadbare morality to listen to. Catherine and Lydia had information for them of a dif- ferent sort. Much had been done and much had been said in the regiment since the preceding Wednesday; several of the officers had dined lately with their uncle, a private had been flogged, and it had actually been hinted that Colonel Forster was going to be married. 74 Pride and Prejudice

Chapter 13 ‘Ihope, my dear,’ said Mr. Bennet to his wife, as they were at breakfast the next morning, ‘that you have ordered a good dinner to-day, because I have reason to expect an ad- dition to our family party.’ ‘Who do you mean, my dear? I know of nobody that is coming, I am sure, unless Charlotte Lucas should happen to call in—and I hope MY dinners are good enough for her. I do not believe she often sees such at home.’ ‘The person of whom I speak is a gentleman, and a strang- er.’ Mrs. Bennet’s eyes sparkled. ‘A gentleman and a strang- er! It is Mr. Bingley, I am sure! Well, I am sure I shall be extremely glad to see Mr. Bingley. But—good Lord! how unlucky! There is not a bit of fish to be got to-day. Lydia, my love, ring the bell—I must speak to Hill this moment.’ ‘It is NOT Mr. Bingley,’ said her husband; ‘it is a person whom I never saw in the whole course of my life.’ This roused a general astonishment; and he had the plea- sure of being eagerly questioned by his wife and his five daughters at once. After amusing himself some time with their curiosity, he thus explained: ‘About a month ago I received this letter; and about a fortnight ago I answered it, for I thought it a case of some Free eBooks at Planet eBook.com 75

delicacy, and requiring early attention. It is from my cousin, Mr. Collins, who, when I am dead, may turn you all out of this house as soon as he pleases.’ ‘Oh! my dear,’ cried his wife, ‘I cannot bear to hear that mentioned. Pray do not talk of that odious man. I do think it is the hardest thing in the world, that your estate should be entailed away from your own children; and I am sure, if I had been you, I should have tried long ago to do something or other about it.’ Jane and Elizabeth tried to explain to her the nature of an entail. They had often attempted to do it before, but it was a subject on which Mrs. Bennet was beyond the reach of reason, and she continued to rail bitterly against the cruelty of settling an estate away from a family of five daughters, in favour of a man whom nobody cared anything about. ‘It certainly is a most iniquitous affair,’ said Mr. Bennet, ‘and nothing can clear Mr. Collins from the guilt of inherit- ing Longbourn. But if you will listen to his letter, you may perhaps be a little softened by his manner of expressing himself.’ ‘No, that I am sure I shall not; and I think it is very im- pertinent of him to write to you at all, and very hypocritical. I hate such false friends. Why could he not keep on quarrel- ing with you, as his father did before him?’ ‘Why, indeed; he does seem to have had some filial scru- ples on that head, as you will hear.’ ‘Hunsford, near Westerham, Kent, 15th October. ‘Dear Sir,— ‘The disagreement subsisting between yourself and my 76 Pride and Prejudice

late honoured father always gave me much uneasiness, and since I have had the misfortune to lose him, I have frequent- ly wished to heal the breach; but for some time I was kept back by my own doubts, fearing lest it might seem disre- spectful to his memory for me to be on good terms with anyone with whom it had always pleased him to be at vari- ance.—‘There, Mrs. Bennet.’—My mind, however, is now made up on the subject, for having received ordination at Easter, I have been so fortunate as to be distinguished by the patronage of the Right Honourable Lady Catherine de Bourgh, widow of Sir Lewis de Bourgh, whose bounty and beneficence has preferred me to the valuable rectory of this parish, where it shall be my earnest endeavour to demean myself with grateful respect towards her ladyship, and be ever ready to perform those rites and ceremonies which are instituted by the Church of England. As a clergy- man, moreover, I feel it my duty to promote and establish the blessing of peace in all families within in the reach of my influence; and on these grounds I flatter myself that my present overtures are highly commendable, and that the circumstance of my being next in the entail of Longbourn estate will be kindly overlooked on your side, and not lead you to reject the offered olive-branch. I cannot be other- wise than concerned at being the means of injuring your amiable daughters, and beg leave to apologise for it, as well as to assure you of my readiness to make them every pos- sible amends—but of this hereafter. If you should have no objection to receive me into your house, I propose myself the satisfaction of waiting on you and your family, Monday, Free eBooks at Planet eBook.com 77

November 18th, by four o’clock, and shall probably trespass on your hospitality till the Saturday se’ennight following, which I can do without any inconvenience, as Lady Cath- erine is far from objecting to my occasional absence on a Sunday, provided that some other clergyman is engaged to do the duty of the day.—I remain, dear sir, with respectful compliments to your lady and daughters, your well-wisher and friend, ‘WILLIAM COLLINS.’ ‘At four o’clock, therefore, we may expect this peace-mak- ing gentleman,’ said Mr. Bennet, as he folded up the letter. ‘He seems to be a most conscientious and polite young man, upon my word, and I doubt not will prove a valuable acquaintance, especially if Lady Catherine should be so in- dulgent as to let him come to us again.’ ‘There is some sense in what he says about the girls, how- ever, and if he is disposed to make them any amends, I shall not be the person to discourage him.’ ‘Though it is difficult,’ said Jane, ‘to guess in what way he can mean to make us the atonement he thinks our due, the wish is certainly to his credit.’ Elizabeth was chiefly struck by his extraordinary def- erence for Lady Catherine, and his kind intention of christening, marrying, and burying his parishioners when- ever it were required. ‘He must be an oddity, I think,’ said she. ‘I cannot make him out.—There is something very pompous in his style.— And what can he mean by apologising for being next in the entail?—We cannot suppose he would help it if he could.— 78 Pride and Prejudice

Could he be a sensible man, sir?’ ‘No, my dear, I think not. I have great hopes of finding him quite the reverse. There is a mixture of servility and self-importance in his letter, which promises well. I am im- patient to see him.’ ‘In point of composition,’ said Mary, ‘the letter does not seem defective. The idea of the olive-branch perhaps is not wholly new, yet I think it is well expressed.’ To Catherine and Lydia, neither the letter nor its writ- er were in any degree interesting. It was next to impossible that their cousin should come in a scarlet coat, and it was now some weeks since they had received pleasure from the society of a man in any other colour. As for their mother, Mr. Collins’s letter had done away much of her ill-will, and she was preparing to see him with a degree of composure which astonished her husband and daughters. Mr. Collins was punctual to his time, and was received with great politeness by the whole family. Mr. Bennet in- deed said little; but the ladies were ready enough to talk, and Mr. Collins seemed neither in need of encouragement, nor inclined to be silent himself. He was a tall, heavy-look- ing young man of five-and-twenty. His air was grave and stately, and his manners were very formal. He had not been long seated before he complimented Mrs. Bennet on hav- ing so fine a family of daughters; said he had heard much of their beauty, but that in this instance fame had fallen short of the truth; and added, that he did not doubt her seeing them all in due time disposed of in marriage. This gallantry was not much to the taste of some of his hearers; but Mrs. Free eBooks at Planet eBook.com 79

Bennet, who quarreled with no compliments, answered most readily. ‘You are very kind, I am sure; and I wish with all my heart it may prove so, for else they will be destitute enough. Things are settled so oddly.’ ‘You allude, perhaps, to the entail of this estate.’ ‘Ah! sir, I do indeed. It is a grievous affair to my poor girls, you must confess. Not that I mean to find fault with YOU, for such things I know are all chance in this world. There is no knowing how estates will go when once they come to be entailed.’ ‘I am very sensible, madam, of the hardship to my fair cousins, and could say much on the subject, but that I am cautious of appearing forward and precipitate. But I can as- sure the young ladies that I come prepared to admire them. At present I will not say more; but, perhaps, when we are better acquainted—‘ He was interrupted by a summons to dinner; and the girls smiled on each other. They were not the only objects of Mr. Collins’s admiration. The hall, the dining-room, and all its furniture, were examined and praised; and his com- mendation of everything would have touched Mrs. Bennet’s heart, but for the mortifying supposition of his viewing it all as his own future property. The dinner too in its turn was highly admired; and he begged to know to which of his fair cousins the excellency of its cooking was owing. But he was set right there by Mrs. Bennet, who assured him with some asperity that they were very well able to keep a good cook, and that her daughters had nothing to do in the kitchen. He 80 Pride and Prejudice

begged pardon for having displeased her. In a softened tone she declared herself not at all offended; but he continued to apologise for about a quarter of an hour. Free eBooks at Planet eBook.com 81

Chapter 14 During dinner, Mr. Bennet scarcely spoke at all; but when the servants were withdrawn, he thought it time to have some conversation with his guest, and therefore started a subject in which he expected him to shine, by ob- serving that he seemed very fortunate in his patroness. Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s attention to his wishes, and con- sideration for his comfort, appeared very remarkable. Mr. Bennet could not have chosen better. Mr. Collins was elo- quent in her praise. The subject elevated him to more than usual solemnity of manner, and with a most important as- pect he protested that ‘he had never in his life witnessed such behaviour in a person of rank—such affability and condescension, as he had himself experienced from Lady Catherine. She had been graciously pleased to approve of both of the discourses which he had already had the honour of preaching before her. She had also asked him twice to dine at Rosings, and had sent for him only the Saturday be- fore, to make up her pool of quadrille in the evening. Lady Catherine was reckoned proud by many people he knew, but HE had never seen anything but affability in her. She had always spoken to him as she would to any other gentle- man; she made not the smallest objection to his joining in the society of the neighbourhood nor to his leaving the par- ish occasionally for a week or two, to visit his relations. She 82 Pride and Prejudice

had even condescended to advise him to marry as soon as he could, provided he chose with discretion; and had once paid him a visit in his humble parsonage, where she had perfectly approved all the alterations he had been making, and had even vouchsafed to suggest some herself—some shelves in the closet upstairs.’ ‘That is all very proper and civil, I am sure,’ said Mrs. Bennet, ‘and I dare say she is a very agreeable woman. It is a pity that great ladies in general are not more like her. Does she live near you, sir?’ ‘The garden in which stands my humble abode is sep- arated only by a lane from Rosings Park, her ladyship’s residence.’ ‘I think you said she was a widow, sir? Has she any fam- ily?’ ‘She has only one daughter, the heiress of Rosings, and of very extensive property.’ ‘Ah!’ said Mrs. Bennet, shaking her head, ‘then she is bet- ter off than many girls. And what sort of young lady is she? Is she handsome?’ ‘She is a most charming young lady indeed. Lady Cath- erine herself says that, in point of true beauty, Miss de Bourgh is far superior to the handsomest of her sex, be- cause there is that in her features which marks the young lady of distinguished birth. She is unfortunately of a sick- ly constitution, which has prevented her from making that progress in many accomplishments which she could not have otherwise failed of, as I am informed by the lady who superintended her education, and who still resides with Free eBooks at Planet eBook.com 83

them. But she is perfectly amiable, and often condescends to drive by my humble abode in her little phaeton and po- nies.’ ‘Has she been presented? I do not remember her name among the ladies at court.’ ‘Her indifferent state of health unhappily prevents her being in town; and by that means, as I told Lady Catherine one day, has deprived the British court of its brightest or- naments. Her ladyship seemed pleased with the idea; and you may imagine that I am happy on every occasion to offer those little delicate compliments which are always ac- ceptable to ladies. I have more than once observed to Lady Catherine, that her charming daughter seemed born to be a duchess, and that the most elevated rank, instead of giv- ing her consequence, would be adorned by her. These are the kind of little things which please her ladyship, and it is a sort of attention which I conceive myself peculiarly bound to pay.’ ‘You judge very properly,’ said Mr. Bennet, ‘and it is happy for you that you possess the talent of flattering with delicacy. May I ask whether these pleasing attentions pro- ceed from the impulse of the moment, or are the result of previous study?’ ‘They arise chiefly from what is passing at the time, and though I sometimes amuse myself with suggesting and ar- ranging such little elegant compliments as may be adapted to ordinary occasions, I always wish to give them as un- studied an air as possible.’ Mr. Bennet’s expectations were fully answered. His cous- 84 Pride and Prejudice

in was as absurd as he had hoped, and he listened to him with the keenest enjoyment, maintaining at the same time the most resolute composure of countenance, and, except in an occasional glance at Elizabeth, requiring no partner in his pleasure. By tea-time, however, the dose had been enough, and Mr. Bennet was glad to take his guest into the drawing-room again, and, when tea was over, glad to invite him to read aloud to the ladies. Mr. Collins readily assented, and a book was produced; but, on beholding it (for everything an- nounced it to be from a circulating library), he started back, and begging pardon, protested that he never read novels. Kitty stared at him, and Lydia exclaimed. Other books were produced, and after some deliberation he chose Fordyce’s Sermons. Lydia gaped as he opened the volume, and before he had, with very monotonous solemnity, read three pages, she interrupted him with: ‘Do you know, mamma, that my uncle Phillips talks of turning away Richard; and if he does, Colonel Forster will hire him. My aunt told me so herself on Saturday. I shall walk to Meryton to-morrow to hear more about it, and to ask when Mr. Denny comes back from town.’ Lydia was bid by her two eldest sisters to hold her tongue; but Mr. Collins, much offended, laid aside his book, and said: ‘I have often observed how little young ladies are inter- ested by books of a serious stamp, though written solely for their benefit. It amazes me, I confess; for, certainly, there can be nothing so advantageous to them as instruction. But Free eBooks at Planet eBook.com 85

I will no longer importune my young cousin.’ Then turning to Mr. Bennet, he offered himself as his antagonist at backgammon. Mr. Bennet accepted the chal- lenge, observing that he acted very wisely in leaving the girls to their own trifling amusements. Mrs. Bennet and her daughters apologised most civilly for Lydia’s interruption, and promised that it should not occur again, if he would re- sume his book; but Mr. Collins, after assuring them that he bore his young cousin no ill-will, and should never resent her behaviour as any affront, seated himself at another table with Mr. Bennet, and prepared for backgammon. 86 Pride and Prejudice

Chapter 15 Mr. Collins was not a sensible man, and the deficiency of nature had been but little assisted by education or society; the greatest part of his life having been spent under the guidance of an illiterate and miserly father; and though he belonged to one of the universities, he had merely kept the necessary terms, without forming at it any useful acquain- tance. The subjection in which his father had brought him up had given him originally great humility of manner; but it was now a good deal counteracted by the self-conceit of a weak head, living in retirement, and the consequential feel- ings of early and unexpected prosperity. A fortunate chance had recommended him to Lady Catherine de Bourgh when the living of Hunsford was vacant; and the respect which he felt for her high rank, and his veneration for her as his patroness, mingling with a very good opinion of himself, of his authority as a clergyman, and his right as a rector, made him altogether a mixture of pride and obsequiousness, self- importance and humility. Having now a good house and a very sufficient income, he intended to marry; and in seeking a reconciliation with the Longbourn family he had a wife in view, as he meant to choose one of the daughters, if he found them as handsome and amiable as they were represented by common report. This was his plan of amends—of atonement—for inheriting Free eBooks at Planet eBook.com 87

their father’s estate; and he thought it an excellent one, full of eligibility and suitableness, and excessively generous and disinterested on his own part. His plan did not vary on seeing them. Miss Bennet’s love- ly face confirmed his views, and established all his strictest notions of what was due to seniority; and for the first eve- ning SHE was his settled choice. The next morning, however, made an alteration; for in a quarter of an hour’s tete-a-tete with Mrs. Bennet before breakfast, a conversation begin- ning with his parsonage-house, and leading naturally to the avowal of his hopes, that a mistress might be found for it at Longbourn, produced from her, amid very complaisant smiles and general encouragement, a caution against the very Jane he had fixed on. ‘As to her YOUNGER daughters, she could not take upon her to say—she could not positive- ly answer—but she did not KNOW of any prepossession; her ELDEST daughter, she must just mention—she felt it incumbent on her to hint, was likely to be very soon en- gaged.’ Mr. Collins had only to change from Jane to Elizabeth— and it was soon done—done while Mrs. Bennet was stirring the fire. Elizabeth, equally next to Jane in birth and beauty, succeeded her of course. Mrs. Bennet treasured up the hint, and trusted that she might soon have two daughters married; and the man whom she could not bear to speak of the day before was now high in her good graces. Lydia’s intention of walking to Meryton was not forgot- ten; every sister except Mary agreed to go with her; and Mr. 88 Pride and Prejudice

Collins was to attend them, at the request of Mr. Bennet, who was most anxious to get rid of him, and have his library to himself; for thither Mr. Collins had followed him after breakfast; and there he would continue, nominally engaged with one of the largest folios in the collection, but really talking to Mr. Bennet, with little cessation, of his house and garden at Hunsford. Such doings discomposed Mr. Bennet exceedingly. In his library he had been always sure of leisure and tranquillity; and though prepared, as he told Elizabeth, to meet with folly and conceit in every other room of the house, he was used to be free from them there; his civility, therefore, was most prompt in inviting Mr. Collins to join his daughters in their walk; and Mr. Collins, being in fact much better fitted for a walker than a reader, was extremely pleased to close his large book, and go. In pompous nothings on his side, and civil assents on that of his cousins, their time passed till they entered Mery- ton. The attention of the younger ones was then no longer to be gained by him. Their eyes were immediately wander- ing up in the street in quest of the officers, and nothing less than a very smart bonnet indeed, or a really new muslin in a shop window, could recall them. But the attention of every lady was soon caught by a young man, whom they had never seen before, of most gen- tlemanlike appearance, walking with another officer on the other side of the way. The officer was the very Mr. Denny concerning whose return from London Lydia came to in- quire, and he bowed as they passed. All were struck with the stranger’s air, all wondered who he could be; and Kitty Free eBooks at Planet eBook.com 89

and Lydia, determined if possible to find out, led the way across the street, under pretense of wanting something in an opposite shop, and fortunately had just gained the pave- ment when the two gentlemen, turning back, had reached the same spot. Mr. Denny addressed them directly, and en- treated permission to introduce his friend, Mr. Wickham, who had returned with him the day before from town, and he was happy to say had accepted a commission in their corps. This was exactly as it should be; for the young man wanted only regimentals to make him completely charm- ing. His appearance was greatly in his favour; he had all the best part of beauty, a fine countenance, a good figure, and very pleasing address. The introduction was followed up on his side by a happy readiness of conversation—a readiness at the same time perfectly correct and unassuming; and the whole party were still standing and talking together very agreeably, when the sound of horses drew their notice, and Darcy and Bingley were seen riding down the street. On distinguishing the ladies of the group, the two gentlemen came directly towards them, and began the usual civili- ties. Bingley was the principal spokesman, and Miss Bennet the principal object. He was then, he said, on his way to Longbourn on purpose to inquire after her. Mr. Darcy cor- roborated it with a bow, and was beginning to determine not to fix his eyes on Elizabeth, when they were suddenly arrested by the sight of the stranger, and Elizabeth happen- ing to see the countenance of both as they looked at each other, was all astonishment at the effect of the meeting. Both changed colour, one looked white, the other red. Mr. 90 Pride and Prejudice

Wickham, after a few moments, touched his hat—a saluta- tion which Mr. Darcy just deigned to return. What could be the meaning of it? It was impossible to imagine; it was im- possible not to long to know. In another minute, Mr. Bingley, but without seeming to have noticed what passed, took leave and rode on with his friend. Mr. Denny and Mr. Wickham walked with the young ladies to the door of Mr. Phillip’s house, and then made their bows, in spite of Miss Lydia’s pressing entreaties that they should come in, and even in spite of Mrs. Phillips’s throwing up the parlour window and loudly seconding the invitation. Mrs. Phillips was always glad to see her nieces; and the two eldest, from their recent absence, were particularly wel- come, and she was eagerly expressing her surprise at their sudden return home, which, as their own carriage had not fetched them, she should have known nothing about, if she had not happened to see Mr. Jones’s shop-boy in the street, who had told her that they were not to send any more draughts to Netherfield because the Miss Bennets were come away, when her civility was claimed towards Mr. Col- lins by Jane’s introduction of him. She received him with her very best politeness, which he returned with as much more, apologising for his intrusion, without any previous acquaintance with her, which he could not help flattering himself, however, might be justified by his relationship to the young ladies who introduced him to her notice. Mrs. Phillips was quite awed by such an excess of good breed- Free eBooks at Planet eBook.com 91

ing; but her contemplation of one stranger was soon put to an end by exclamations and inquiries about the other; of whom, however, she could only tell her nieces what they already knew, that Mr. Denny had brought him from Lon- don, and that he was to have a lieutenant’s commission in the ——shire. She had been watching him the last hour, she said, as he walked up and down the street, and had Mr. Wickham appeared, Kitty and Lydia would certainly have continued the occupation, but unluckily no one passed windows now except a few of the officers, who, in compar- ison with the stranger, were become ‘stupid, disagreeable fellows.’ Some of them were to dine with the Phillipses the next day, and their aunt promised to make her husband call on Mr. Wickham, and give him an invitation also, if the family from Longbourn would come in the evening. This was agreed to, and Mrs. Phillips protested that they would have a nice comfortable noisy game of lottery tickets, and a little bit of hot supper afterwards. The prospect of such de- lights was very cheering, and they parted in mutual good spirits. Mr. Collins repeated his apologies in quitting the room, and was assured with unwearying civility that they were perfectly needless. As they walked home, Elizabeth related to Jane what she had seen pass between the two gentlemen; but though Jane would have defended either or both, had they appeared to be in the wrong, she could no more explain such behaviour than her sister. Mr. Collins on his return highly gratified Mrs. Bennet by admiring Mrs. Phillips’s manners and politeness. He 92 Pride and Prejudice

protested that, except Lady Catherine and her daughter, he had never seen a more elegant woman; for she had not only received him with the utmost civility, but even pointedly in- cluded him in her invitation for the next evening, although utterly unknown to her before. Something, he supposed, might be attributed to his connection with them, but yet he had never met with so much attention in the whole course of his life. Free eBooks at Planet eBook.com 93

Chapter 16 As no objection was made to the young people’s engage- ment with their aunt, and all Mr. Collins’s scruples of leaving Mr. and Mrs. Bennet for a single evening during his visit were most steadily resisted, the coach conveyed him and his five cousins at a suitable hour to Meryton; and the girls had the pleasure of hearing, as they entered the draw- ing-room, that Mr. Wickham had accepted their uncle’s invitation, and was then in the house. When this information was given, and they had all taken their seats, Mr. Collins was at leisure to look around him and admire, and he was so much struck with the size and furniture of the apartment, that he declared he might al- most have supposed himself in the small summer breakfast parlour at Rosings; a comparison that did not at first con- vey much gratification; but when Mrs. Phillips understood from him what Rosings was, and who was its proprietor— when she had listened to the description of only one of Lady Catherine’s drawing-rooms, and found that the chimney- piece alone had cost eight hundred pounds, she felt all the force of the compliment, and would hardly have resented a comparison with the housekeeper’s room. In describing to her all the grandeur of Lady Catherine and her mansion, with occasional digressions in praise of his own humble abode, and the improvements it was receiv- 94 Pride and Prejudice

ing, he was happily employed until the gentlemen joined them; and he found in Mrs. Phillips a very attentive listen- er, whose opinion of his consequence increased with what she heard, and who was resolving to retail it all among her neighbours as soon as she could. To the girls, who could not listen to their cousin, and who had nothing to do but to wish for an instrument, and examine their own indifferent imi- tations of china on the mantelpiece, the interval of waiting appeared very long. It was over at last, however. The gentle- men did approach, and when Mr. Wickham walked into the room, Elizabeth felt that she had neither been seeing him before, nor thinking of him since, with the smallest degree of unreasonable admiration. The officers of the ——shire were in general a very creditable, gentlemanlike set, and the best of them were of the present party; but Mr. Wickham was as far beyond them all in person, countenance, air, and walk, as THEY were superior to the broad-faced, stuffy un- cle Phillips, breathing port wine, who followed them into the room. Mr. Wickham was the happy man towards whom almost every female eye was turned, and Elizabeth was the happy woman by whom he finally seated himself; and the agree- able manner in which he immediately fell into conversation, though it was only on its being a wet night, made her feel that the commonest, dullest, most threadbare topic might be rendered interesting by the skill of the speaker. With such rivals for the notice of the fair as Mr. Wickham and the officers, Mr. Collins seemed to sink into insignifi- cance; to the young ladies he certainly was nothing; but he Free eBooks at Planet eBook.com 95

had still at intervals a kind listener in Mrs. Phillips, and was by her watchfulness, most abundantly supplied with cof- fee and muffin. When the card-tables were placed, he had the opportunity of obliging her in turn, by sitting down to whist. ‘I know little of the game at present,’ said he, ‘but I shall be glad to improve myself, for in my situation in life—‘ Mrs. Phillips was very glad for his compliance, but could not wait for his reason. Mr. Wickham did not play at whist, and with ready de- light was he received at the other table between Elizabeth and Lydia. At first there seemed danger of Lydia’s engross- ing him entirely, for she was a most determined talker; but being likewise extremely fond of lottery tickets, she soon grew too much interested in the game, too eager in making bets and exclaiming after prizes to have attention for any- one in particular. Allowing for the common demands of the game, Mr. Wickham was therefore at leisure to talk to Eliz- abeth, and she was very willing to hear him, though what she chiefly wished to hear she could not hope to be told— the history of his acquaintance with Mr. Darcy. She dared not even mention that gentleman. Her curiosity, however, was unexpectedly relieved. Mr. Wickham began the subject himself. He inquired how far Netherfield was from Mery- ton; and, after receiving her answer, asked in a hesitating manner how long Mr. Darcy had been staying there. ‘About a month,’ said Elizabeth; and then, unwilling to let the subject drop, added, ‘He is a man of very large prop- erty in Derbyshire, I understand.’ 96 Pride and Prejudice

‘Yes,’ replied Mr. Wickham; ‘his estate there is a noble one. A clear ten thousand per annum. You could not have met with a person more capable of giving you certain infor- mation on that head than myself, for I have been connected with his family in a particular manner from my infancy.’ Elizabeth could not but look surprised. ‘You may well be surprised, Miss Bennet, at such an as- sertion, after seeing, as you probably might, the very cold manner of our meeting yesterday. Are you much acquaint- ed with Mr. Darcy?’ ‘As much as I ever wish to be,’ cried Elizabeth very warm- ly. ‘I have spent four days in the same house with him, and I think him very disagreeable.’ ‘I have no right to give MY opinion,’ said Wickham, ‘as to his being agreeable or otherwise. I am not qualified to form one. I have known him too long and too well to be a fair judge. It is impossible for ME to be impartial. But I believe your opinion of him would in general astonish—and per- haps you would not express it quite so strongly anywhere else. Here you are in your own family.’ ‘Upon my word, I say no more HERE than I might say in any house in the neighbourhood, except Netherfield. He is not at all liked in Hertfordshire. Everybody is disgusted with his pride. You will not find him more favourably spo- ken of by anyone.’ ‘I cannot pretend to be sorry,’ said Wickham, after a short interruption, ‘that he or that any man should not be esti- mated beyond their deserts; but with HIM I believe it does not often happen. The world is blinded by his fortune and Free eBooks at Planet eBook.com 97

consequence, or frightened by his high and imposing man- ners, and sees him only as he chooses to be seen.’ ‘I should take him, even on MY slight acquaintance, to be an ill-tempered man.’ Wickham only shook his head. ‘I wonder,’ said he, at the next opportunity of speaking, ‘whether he is likely to be in this country much longer.’ ‘I do not at all know; but I HEARD nothing of his go- ing away when I was at Netherfield. I hope your plans in favour of the ——shire will not be affected by his being in the neighbourhood.’ ‘Oh! no—it is not for ME to be driven away by Mr. Darcy. If HE wishes to avoid seeing ME, he must go. We are not on friendly terms, and it always gives me pain to meet him, but I have no reason for avoiding HIM but what I might proclaim before all the world, a sense of very great ill-usage, and most painful regrets at his being what he is. His father, Miss Bennet, the late Mr. Darcy, was one of the best men that ever breathed, and the truest friend I ever had; and I can never be in company with this Mr. Darcy without be- ing grieved to the soul by a thousand tender recollections. His behaviour to myself has been scandalous; but I verily believe I could forgive him anything and everything, rather than his disappointing the hopes and disgracing the mem- ory of his father.’ Elizabeth found the interest of the subject increase, and listened with all her heart; but the delicacy of it prevented further inquiry. Mr. Wickham began to speak on more general topics, Meryton, the neighbourhood, the society, appearing highly 98 Pride and Prejudice

pleased with all that he had yet seen, and speaking of the latter with gentle but very intelligible gallantry. ‘It was the prospect of constant society, and good soci- ety,’ he added, ‘which was my chief inducement to enter the ——shire. I knew it to be a most respectable, agreeable corps, and my friend Denny tempted me further by his account of their present quarters, and the very great attentions and ex- cellent acquaintances Meryton had procured them. Society, I own, is necessary to me. I have been a disappointed man, and my spirits will not bear solitude. I MUST have employ- ment and society. A military life is not what I was intended for, but circumstances have now made it eligible. The church OUGHT to have been my profession—I was brought up for the church, and I should at this time have been in posses- sion of a most valuable living, had it pleased the gentleman we were speaking of just now.’ ‘Indeed!’ ‘Yes—the late Mr. Darcy bequeathed me the next presen- tation of the best living in his gift. He was my godfather, and excessively attached to me. I cannot do justice to his kindness. He meant to provide for me amply, and thought he had done it; but when the living fell, it was given else- where.’ ‘Good heavens!’ cried Elizabeth; ‘but how could THAT be? How could his will be disregarded? Why did you not seek legal redress?’ ‘There was just such an informality in the terms of the bequest as to give me no hope from law. A man of honour could not have doubted the intention, but Mr. Darcy chose Free eBooks at Planet eBook.com 99

to doubt it—or to treat it as a merely conditional recom- mendation, and to assert that I had forfeited all claim to it by extravagance, imprudence—in short anything or noth- ing. Certain it is, that the living became vacant two years ago, exactly as I was of an age to hold it, and that it was given to another man; and no less certain is it, that I cannot accuse myself of having really done anything to deserve to lose it. I have a warm, unguarded temper, and I may have spoken my opinion OF him, and TO him, too freely. I can recall nothing worse. But the fact is, that we are very differ- ent sort of men, and that he hates me.’ ‘This is quite shocking! He deserves to be publicly dis- graced.’ ‘Some time or other he WILL be—but it shall not be by ME. Till I can forget his father, I can never defy or expose HIM.’ Elizabeth honoured him for such feelings, and thought him handsomer than ever as he expressed them. ‘But what,’ said she, after a pause, ‘can have been his mo- tive? What can have induced him to behave so cruelly?’ ‘A thorough, determined dislike of me—a dislike which I cannot but attribute in some measure to jealousy. Had the late Mr. Darcy liked me less, his son might have borne with me better; but his father’s uncommon attachment to me ir- ritated him, I believe, very early in life. He had not a temper to bear the sort of competition in which we stood—the sort of preference which was often given me.’ ‘I had not thought Mr. Darcy so bad as this—though I have never liked him. I had not thought so very ill of him. 100 Pride and Prejudice